USS OGDEN (LPD-5) FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96601

Transcription

1 USS OGDEN (LPD-5) FPO SAN FRANCISCO From: Commanding Officer To : Director of Naval History Subj: Command History Eor Calendar Year 1974; submission of Ref: (a) OPNAVINST B Encl: (1) Chronology for calendar year 1974 (2) Basic Narrative (3) Documentary Annexes 1. In accordance with reference (a), enclosures (1), (2) and (3) are submitted. Copy to: COMPHIBPAC COMPHIBRON THREE CHINFO

2 USS OGDEN (LPD 5) 1974 CHRONOLOGY JANUARY Inport San Diego FEBRUARY Inport San Diego Underway in local OPAREAS undergoing sea trials Inport San Diego Underway in local OPAREAS for training Anchored in Coronado Roads/Underway in local OPAREAS MARCH Inport San Diego Underway in local OPAREAS for REFTRA Anchored in San Diego Bay Underway in local OPAREAS for REFTRA Inport San Diego Anchored in Coronado Roads Underway in route Camp Pendleton amphibious areas Anchored and underway in Camp Pendleton amphibious OPAREAS Inport San Diego APRIL Inport San Diego 22 Underway in local OPAREAS Conduction training Inport San Diego.

3 MAY JUNE JULY Inport San Diego Underway in local OPAREAS for training, Dependents Cruise Inport San Diego Underway enroute Pearl Harbor, commenced MESTPAC deployment Arrived Pearl Harbor Underway enroute Subic Bay/COMPHIBRON THREE embarked Crossed 180th Meridian Arrived Subic Bay/COMPHIBRON THREE Disembarked Inport Subic Bay Underway enroute Okinawa Arrived Okinawa/Departed Okinawa enroute Subic Bay Arrived Subic Bay Inport Subic Bay Underway enroute Hong Kong Moored in Naval Anchorage Hong Kong Underway enroute Subic Bay Inport Subic Bay Underway evading Typhoon Ivey Inport Subic Bay Underway in local OPAREAS for training Inport Subic Bay Underway enroute San Fernando, R.P.

4 AUGUST Inport San Fernando, R. P Underway enroute Keelung, Taiwan Inport Keelung Taiwan Underway enroute Okinawa 11 Arrived Okinawa Underway enroute Subic Bay Inport Subic Bay Underway participating in Operation Pagasa 111 SEPTEMBER 01 Enroute Subic Bay Inport Subic Bay Underway enroute Hong Kong Inport Hong Kong/Anchored in Naval Anchorage Underway enroute Manila Inport Manila Underway in Subic OPAREAS for training Inport Subic Bay OCTOBER Inport Subic Bay 09 Capt W. F. SAUBERS, USN releived Capt. R. N. CONGDON, USN as Commanding Officer Underway enroute Singapore Inport Singapore at ANZUK Naval Base Underway enroute Subic Bay Inport Subic Bay

5 NOVEMBER Inport Subic Bay Underway for Okinawa/COMPHIBRON THREE embarked 09 Arrived Okinawa/Loaded retrograde shipment/disembarked COMPHIBRON THREE Underway enroute Pearl Harbor 22 Arrived Pearl Harbor Underway enroute San Diego 30 Arrived San Diego/Commenced Standdown DECEMBER Inport San Diego

6 USS OGDEN (LPD-5) 1974 Narrative History for the USS OGDEN (LPD-5) for the year COMMANDED BY: R. N. CONGDON, Captain,U.S. NAVY 01 January - 09 October K. F. SAUBERS, Captain,U.S. NAVY 09 October - 31 December HOMEPORT : San Diego, California ASSIGNED TO: Amphibious Squadron THREE MISSION: The mission of USS OGDEN (LPD-5) is to transport and land troops and their essential equipment and supplies by means of embarked landing craft, amphibious vehicles, and helicopter lift. NARRATIVE: On 1 January 1974, the ship was moored in San Diego, California continuing a routine period of upkeep. The ship remained at pier 8 for the entire month with no notable events occurring. OGDEN made comprehensive preparations for getting underway during the first three weeks of February. On 22 February OGDEN was underway for training and shakedown in local southern California operating areas. The ship anchored off Silver Strand in the early afternoon and returned to U.S. Nava1,Station. San Diego later that day. OGDEN was underway again on 25 February to conduct training with particular emphasis on exercises that would be experienced during the refresher training period scheduled for the next month. USS GUADALUPE (AO-32) provided OGDEN with underway replenishment services the evening of 26 February. The ship anchored in Coronado Roads on 27 February and remained there conducting boat control exercises until the following evening when it got underway for night steaming in the local operating areas. OGDEN began March with a full battle problem general quarters drill, an evolution the ship was to encounter numerous times during the rest of the month. The ship moored at U.S. Naval Station, San Diego later that day. During the week of 4 March OGDEN received its annual NWI and a Maintenance and Material Management inspection. On 11 March refresher training commenced with the ship

7 getting underway for local operating areas and remaining underway for the duration of the week. The ship returned to a berth-at U.S. Naval Station, San Diego, Friday afternoon and the crew enjoyed a brief rest over the weekend. Monday,l8 Marhlibegan the final week of the regular portion of refresher training. The ship was underway from Monday morning through Thrusday night when it moored to buoys in San Diego Bay. The final Battle Problem was conducted after the ship got underway early Friday afternoon. OGDEN returned to a berth at U.S. Naval Station, San Diego early Friday evening. Amphibious Refresher Training commenced on Monday, 25 March. The ship spend Monday and Tuesday anchored in Coronado, Roads and underway in local operating areas. On Wednesday, 27 March, OGDEN proceeded to the amphibious exercise area off Camp Pendelton. Wednesday and Thursday the ship conducted LVT and Boat Landing Operations while both anchored and underway. A material casualty Thursday morning necessitated the curtailment of amphibious refresher training. The ship returned to San Diego later that evening and spent the remainder of the month inport. Routine maintenance and upkeep were conducted inport San Diego, from 1 April through 21 April. On Monday, 22 April the ship got underway for Coronado Roads and anchored there to conduct Amphibious Exercises. OGDEN returned to San Diego Wednesday, 24 April, remaining inport for the rest of the month. OGDEN was fast approaching the final preparations for deployment when May began. The period of 1-16 May was spent inport for correcting minor deficiencies and receiving the various supplies and stores the ship would require for the initial transit to WEST- PAC. On 17 May the ship got underway for one day for a brief shakedown and also to provide the dependents and guests onboard some insight to the ship's operations. OGDEN completed final preparations for deployment in San Diego from May and then sailed for Pearl Harbor on the 24th. Ships in company included USS CLEVE- LAND (LPD-7), USS RACINE (LST-1191), USS MONTICELLO CLSD-35). USS SAN BERNADINO (LST-11891, and USS TULARE (LKA-112). OGDEN and the other ships in the formation conducted various exercises while enroute Pearl Harbor, including gunnery exercises on 28 and 29 May. The task group arrived at Pearl Harbor the morning of 31 May and began replenishing for the long trip to Subic Bay. COMPHIBRON THREE and his staff transferred to OGDEN from USS CLEVELAND for the transit to Subic Bay. OGDEN's departure from Pearl Harbor on 1 June was not without incident. Shortly after the ship took departure from the harbor a member of the crew leaped off the flight deck. He was quickly retrieved by the ship's motor whaleboat and the transit to Subic Bay was continued. USS RACINE was steaming in company; the other ships having departed for Australia to participate in Exercise KANGAROO 1. The ship crossed the international dateline on 4 June. Frequent drills and exercises continued to be the main order of business during the long transit to Subic Bay.

8 On 9 June, OGDEN officially transferred from THIRD FLEET to SEVENTH FLEET. The evening of 14 June the ship entered the San Bernadino Strait on its final leg to Suhic Bay. The morning of 16 June, COMPHIBRON TEE and his staff disembarked by helicopter prior to OGDEN's arrival at Subic later that morning. Monday 17 June, COMPHIBPOR SWENTHFLT visited the ship. Early that evening a small class alpha fire was extinguished in a berthing compartment. No injuries or significant damage was sustained. OGDEN remained in Subic Bay for upkeep until Sunday, 30 June when she got underway enroute Okinawa, Japan. The ship arrived at Buckner Bay, Okinawa on 2 July and departed on the same day for Subic Bay. The Fourth of July was celebrated by the crew with a picnic on the flight deck and entertainment was provided by ship's force as the ship steamed down the western flank of Luzon. Heavy rain,with visability limited to several hundred yards at times,greeted the ship as she arrived back at Subic on 5 July. On 7 July OGDEN departed for Hong Kong arriving there on 9 July for a four day visit. Saturday, 13 July found the ship on its way back to Subic Bay where it arrived on 15 July. Typhoon Ivey interrupted everyone's plans and forced a general sortie from Subic in which OGDEN participated on Saturday, 20 July. IVEY passed quickly and the ship returned to Subic Bay the following morning. OGDEN got underway with USS New Orleans CLPH-11) on 27 July for training in Subic operating areas. On 29 July, the ship returned to Subic for repairs to a minor engineering casualty and then departed for a rendevous with USS NEW ORLEANS, USS MONTICELLO, and USS FRESNO. OGDEN returned to Subic Bay 30 July upon completion of the underway training period. The following day the ship left Subic Bay for San Fernando, Lhzon. Just after passing Grande Island on the way out of the bay, two members of the crew departed the ship without authorization. They were quickly returned by the ship's motor whaleboat and the ship continued on to San Fernando arriving there the following morning. On 1 August, the ship received a most warm and friendly welcome by various civic groups from the community. A demonstration of local and provincial dances was presented on the pier including participation by ship's officers. Later during the visit the mayor and commanding officer exchanged the key to the city and a ship's plaque. Two tons of Project Handclasp material were presented to the local hospital before the ship left on 3 August bound for Keelung, Taiwan. Though many members of the crew were hindered by extremely loose bowels brought on by drinking the local uater in San Fernando, the ship arrived at Keelung on 5 August. On Tuesday 6 August VADM SALZER, COM- PHIBPAC visited the ship. OGDEN departed Taiwan on 10 August enroute Okinawa in company with USS NEW ORLEANS, USS MONTICELLO

9 and USS FRESNO. Buckner Ra was reachd on 11 August and the departed with USS MONT.KCELL g and U S FRESNQ in company enroute Subic Bay on 12 August. On 14 Augus,t, the s.hip conducted under - way replenishment xith USNS TALUGA. The follovcing day, OGDEN moored aiain in Su6ic Bay. From -20 August until the end of the month, the skip participated Tn Exercise PAGASA TI1 with other units of the U.S. WENTH 'FLEET off the northern coast of Panay. Republic of the Philippines. OGDEN recorded her eight thousandth accident free helicopter landing during the exercise on 24 August. On 26 and 30 August OGDEN conducted underway replenishment with USS WABASH CAOR- 5). OGDEN moored in Subic Bay on 1 September and remained inport until 10 September when she departed for her sedond visit to Hong Kong. The ship arrived on 12 September and departed on 16 September in company with USS TRIPOLI CLPH-10) and USS FRESNO bound for Manila. While enroute, the ship was provided Mth underway replenishment services by USS SACRAMENTO [AOEl) on 18 September. OGDEN arrived at,manila on 19 September and the crew spent a pleasant though damp week touring the city and surrounding countryside before the ship departed on 24 September. The next three days involved exercises with UJS TRIPOLI, USS FRESNO, and USS WADDELL CDLG-24) in Subic operating areas before entering Subic Bay on 28 September. During the final two days of the month the ship was at anchor in the bay conducting training. OGDEN conducted routine upkeep and maintenance inport from 1-15 October. On 9 October, Captain W.F. SAUBERS, USN relieved Captain R. N. CONGDON, USN as commanding officer. Singapore was the ships next destination when departure was taken from Subic Bay on 16 October in company with USS TRIPOLI. Both ships moored at the ANZUK Naval Base on the northern coast of the island, on Monday, 21 October. The ship's softball team defeated the island's national championship team in a cordial game held downtown on 23 October. The following day, the OGDEN hosted various units of the New Zealand and Singapore armed forces for compreheasive tours of the ship including displays of the embarked Marine equipment and capabilities. USS TRIPOLI and OGDEN departed for Subic Bay on 25 October. The equator was not crossed on the return transit due to operational committments. USS SAN JOSE (AFS-7) provided underway replenishment services for OGDEN on the night of 28 October. The ship arrived in Subic Bay on 30 October for its last inport period there during the deployment. That evening, the Secretary of the Navy visited the ship and presented the Engineering Department with the "Golden Snipe" award. OGDEN spent the first four days in November completing preparations for the long trans-it back to San Diego. On 5 November the ship cleared Subic Bay for the final time and headed for OKTNANA to take on a load of retrograde material and vehicles. COMPKTWN TIBEE and his staff were embarked and USS FRESNO was steaming in company. The ships took an unusual route to OKINAWA

10 by moving s~utheast.th;rough the Sm Besnadino Straits in ~rder to avoid a typbon?assing across the philippipe Sea. Qn 9 NOYember the ships arr~ved at Buckner Bay after a aornbg vertical replenishment with- USS MARS C4F.S-11. COMPHTBRON THREE. and his staff transferred to USS CLEYELAND the same day. OGDEN and USS CLEVELAND departed OKTNAWA on 10 November hound for Pearl Harbor. The ship transferred from SEVENTKFLEET to THIRDFLEET on 15 November and crossed the international dateline on118 November. USS PONCHATOULA CAO-148) provided underway replehishment services on 21 November. Pearl Karbor was reached on 22 November after an arduas trip that had seen the ship experience eighteen foot seas for most of the passage. OGDEN departed Pearl Harbor the following day in company with USS CLEVELAND on the final leg of the deployment. San Diego was reached on 30 November and the ship remained moored at the Naval Station in a post-deployment standdown rest for the year.